Written Answers Tuesday 31 August 2010

Scottish Executive

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the consultation on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to shape the Nature of England .

Roseanna Cunningham: The UK Government has kept the Scottish Government informed of its proposals. The UK Government and the Scottish Government together with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are discussing options for a joint position statement on high-level principles for nature conservation.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, whether any matter in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to shape the Nature of England , will affect Scotland.

Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35599 on 31 August 2010. The natural environment crosses national boundaries and An invitation to shape the Nature of England recognises that the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations will need to work together for a strong UK position in EU negotiations over environmental policy. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, what plans it has to (a) consult stakeholders in Scotland in relation to and (b) respond to the consultation on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to shape the Nature of England.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government will not be responding to or promoting the consultation. Stakeholders in Scotland are free to respond if they wish to do so.

Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Patient Rights Officers proposed in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will have in cases where compensation is being sought.

Nicola Sturgeon: The role of Patient Rights Officers as set out in provision 16 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill includes providing advice and support to individuals to make a complaint under the NHS Complaints procedure. Patient Rights Officers will not be involved with claims by patients for financial compensation. They will have no role in cases where compensation is being sought other than perhaps to offer signposting advice.

Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will act as an advocate for vulnerable and other patients in relation to any complaints made under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advocacy service is proposed for young people to ensure that their rights are protected under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.

Nicola Sturgeon: The provision in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill at 16(d) (ii) states that a function of the Patient Rights Officers is to direct people ‘to persons providing representation or advocacy services’ and this applies to all patients, irrespective of age. The Explanatory Notes, which accompanied the Bill, explain that new funding will be made available to cover the potential impact of this provision.

  NHS boards, working with partner organisations, should provide access to independent advocacy services to all users of NHS services (including the NHS complaints process) who need this support. The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) will work with NHS boards during 2010-11 to undertake a needs assessment and develop advocacy plans to ensure that any gaps in provision are addressed. The Principles and Standards for Independent Advocacy produced by the SIAA identifies the special considerations needed in relation to the provision of advocacy services for children and young people.

  Advocacy Makes You Feel Brave: Advocacy support for children and young people in Scotland commissioned by the Scottish Executive was published in January 2010. The report makes a number of recommendations and dedicated work with relevant stakeholders is being forward on this.

  The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 provides for everyone, including young people, with a mental disorder in Scotland – not just those who are subject to compulsory measures – to have a right of access to independent advocacy.

Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Patient Rights Officers proposed in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will (a) differ from the present complaints system and (b) be independent of the NHS board about which a complaint is being made.

Nicola Sturgeon: Patient Rights Officers (PROs) will deliver the functions of the Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) set out in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill at provision 15(2).

  The Common Services Agency (CSA) will secure the provision of the PASS, which will not be provided by either a health board, special health board or the CSA.

  The PASS will operate independently of NHS boards and NHS Complaints Officers and will provide advice and support in relation to patient rights. PASS will not investigate complaints but will provide advice and support to people who want to make a complaint about the healthcare they have received. PASS will also provide advice in relation to other support services such as advocacy.

Prison Service

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are on a methadone reduction plan, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Prisoner Survey captures data from prisoners reporting to be in receipt of a methadone prescription and whether they are receiving a reducing dose.

  The following table is an extract from the Prisoner Survey 2009. The survey was conducted between 15 May and 10 July 2009. The overall response rate was 62%. Column (a) records the number within the establishment that responded to the survey; column (b) records the number reporting being prescribed methadone, and column (c) records the number who report they are in receipt of a reducing dose.

  

Establishment
(a) % and number of prisoners responding to overall Survey
(b) % and number of respondents reporting being prescribed methadone
(c) Number of respondents reporting that prescription to be a reducing dose


Aberdeen
55% (n=115)
32% (n=34)
n=8


Addiewell
51% (n=348)
22% (n=67)
n=10


Barlinnie
79% (n=786)
26% (n=183)
n=43


Cornton Vale
65% (n=194)
32% (n=51)
n=11


Dumfries
88% (n=144)
20% (n=20)
n=5


Edinburgh
45% (n=346)
21% (n=66)
n=11


Glenochil
44% (n=292)
27% (n=73)
n=18


Greenock
68% (n=176)
18% (n=29)
n=6


Inverness
55% (n=79)
9% (n=6)
n=1


Kilmarnock
68% (n=346)
26% (n=79)
n=15


Open Estate
43% (n=109)
10% (n=9)
n=2


Perth
65% (n=462)
21% (n=85)
n=10


Peterhead
73% (n=213)
0
n/a


Polmont
80% (n=540)
2% (n=9)
n=6


Shotts
52% (n=281)
29% (n=66)
n=11



  Column (b) corresponds closely with snapshot audits of methadone prescribing, sourced from prison health centres.

  The following questions were given a holding answer:

  S3W-35564

  S3W-35565

  S3W-35576

  S3W-35577

  S3W-35580

  S3W-35583

  S3W-35593

  S3W-35594

  S3W-35598